Because of Florida’s warm weather and healthy environment, senior citizens have been known to gravitate to Florida. There are many people over the age of 65 residing in Florida, and many of these seniors are drivers on Florida roads.

Florida Car Crashes Involving Seniors

Senior drivers typically stay away from interstates and freeways because they don’t like traveling at high speeds; however, South Florida car crashes still occur at slow speeds. Many accidents involving senior drivers take place on city streets and even in residential neighborhoods.

Some of the types of Florida accidents involving seniors include:

Rear-end accidents—Elderly drivers typically have slower reflexes and failing eyesight. Poor eyesight may trick a person into thinking a car is farther away than it really is. When a senior notices the hazard and starts to apply the brakes or react to the situation, his reactions are often slower than younger drivers. These factors together can lead to rear-end accidents in Sarasota.

Intersection accidents—Seniors often fail to determine how fast a car is approaching. Because an elderly driver may think that a car is traveling at a slower pace than it actually is, he may make a left-hand or right-hand turn in front of the other car, causing an intersection accident.

Side swipe accidents—Because elderly drivers may not see as clearly as they used to or because they may get disoriented or have trouble concentrating if they are taking medications, they may veer into another lane and cause an accident.

Nighttime accidents—Most elderly people will tell you that they try to avoid driving at night because of their deteriorating night vision; however, some still drive after sunset. Because of poor eyesight, many accidents involving seniors occur at night.

The State of Florida has always ranked in the top three states for senior crash fatalities because of how many seniors live in the Sunshine State. According to reports, there are approximately 2.7 million drivers older than 65 licensed in Florida, which is about 20 percent of all drivers in the state. Analysts expect crashes involving seniors to increase due to the Baby Boomer generation.

If you have an elderly loved one who is still driving, make sure they are safe to be on the road. If not, talk to them about alternate transportation options for their own safety and the safety of others.

If you are a victim of a South Florida car crash due to the negligence of an older driver, please call aSarasota auto accident attorney at the Mallard Law Firm today at (888) 409-3805 for a free discussion of your case. We will also provide you with a complimentary copy of our book, The Florida Accident Handbook: What You Need to Know After an Auto, Truck or Bicycle Accident.